Makes you wonder how long this type of activity has been going on, not only in West Auckland but at every beach where paua is accessible doesn�t it? Without the spotlight being put on this type of outrageous behaviour most of the public wouldn�t have a clue how bad the problem is. We only need to look at some other countries to see what affect this has in the long term. With more funding maybe operations like this could be carried out more often.

Big blitz on illegal fishing hauls in West Auckland

Source: NZ Herald

Author: Natasha Harris

Ministry of Fisheries officers fined 23 people for illegal hauls during a weekend blitz in West Auckland.

About 150 cars were checked on Huia Rd near Cornwallis Beach, and six people now face court appearances for either taking more fish than allowed or taking undersized fish.

Police were also breath-testing drivers on Huia Rd. They stopped about 1500 cars, catching one drink-driver.

Fisheries officer Sonia Hoyes said the extent of the law-breaking - and especially the number of people taking undersized paua - was shocking.

"I'm disappointed, as people are depleting the paua fisheries out here," Miss Hoyes said.

"People feel there's a reasonable chance they'll get away with it but while you may get away with it once or twice we'll get you in the end."

Most of the illegal hauls found at the weekend were undersized paua, angering officers who said constant harvesting of this sort meant they had not seen legal-sized paua taken in the area for about five years.

Miss Hoyes said the worst finding over the weekend was an Asian couple who had more than three times the legal limit of pipis and twice the legal limit of cockles. They received a $1500 fine.

In another case, officers found baby mussels and 12cm snapper. The legal size for snapper is 27cm.

The majority of people who had been caught were mostly co-operative, Miss Hoyes said.

But police had to calm down a man who objected to his car being searched. He ended up getting a $250 fine for taking two undersized fish.

This is the second year that police and fisheries have worked together to crack down on illegal fishing and shellfish-gathering.

I think you'll find it's everyone Bender, all races. A large amount of these poachers must do it blatantly... it's not like you can exactly conceal a couple of buckets of shellfish down your trousers.

so how did you sneak thru barrie....did yua wink a sly wink at one of the ladies and put your phone number on a dart...

another comment guys
Fines are a waste of money... Think about it... When you get a speed camera fine in the post, you get hissed off pay it and dont change a thing about the way you drive (that alone is proof that it is only tax collecting)but when you are inconvienanced by haveing to stop and talk to the cop, it has a greater effect.
My suggestion would be to have a loss of your car for periods depending on how badly the law had been broken. Say 1 snapper over or too small...loose the car (regardless of who owns it) for say a week or month...more serious offending could result in more time or even total loss of the car. When you get a fine, its paid and life goes on but when you loose the car its a hassle for quite sometime afterwards...walk to work or to get the shopping or worst still...have to carry the booze home